The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-19
Special Contributors.
CAN WE WAIT2
BY Miss BELLE GORTON.
(Cmcago.l

This question if proposed to a person
of wisdom, would probably receive the
paradoxical reply; 1--WE should wait,
we should never wait, yet we must
always wait-that is, be slow in decid
ing upon a course of action, be prompt
in following it up when decided, ard
wait forever, if need be, for fulfillment.
For to the Universalist, there need be
no unfinished work for any mortal; we
all have the great here, and later the
sublime hereafter before us.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,
we are told, and yet the fact remains
that time is the noblest and most i'm
portant factor in all accomplishment.
We say noblest, adyisedly, for it is the
magnificent staying power in man, the
innate and indestructible sense of per
sonal power which enables him to per-
sist in labor against fearful odds 1t is
more than the tortoise instinct in hu-
manity, which keeps itplodding on and
ont is a godlike foresight which has
measured its force to future achieve
ments. Probably not a day passes
without some marked exemplification
of the value of time in all reckoniDgs.
A prudent business man counts upon
five years to make fair beginning for
himself that is. build up q moderate
trade on a sound basis, and with fair
profits. Even a new line of railroad,
with unlimited capital at command for
pushing, finds itself fairly seated only
after several years and as for news
paper, by the time it has passed its
first quarter century, it may be said to
be out Of its swaddling clothes, and to
have demonstrated its right to exist
ence. 1t is just ready to grow, unless
some rude social tempest brings sud
den quietus.
Growth of all kinds is slow in its be-
ginnings, but the most deliberate of all
developments is that of spiritual nat
ure. That growth which is certain is
SO imperceptible to the careless eye, is
so tardily measured in outward actions.
Said a friend not long since, contem-
plating forming new church relations,
81 shall unite with -- congregation,
provided it does not take several years
to get acquainted and feel socially at
home with them"-which reminds us
of EmersOn's noble lines 1.-The things
that are really for thee gravitate to thee
,.... o, believe, as thou livest,
that every sound that is spoken over
the round world which thou oughtest
to hear, will vibrate on thine ear
$500. Every friend whom not thy
fantastic will, but the great and tender
heart in thee craveth, shall lock thee in
his embrace" Good, true, friendships
are no light, easy growth, and since
they spring of necessity between GER
tain natures, must be allowed time, that
they may be no forced hot house pro-
duct, the result of unnatural and DER
speedy pressure. If there be a moving
sight, it is that of two souls held firmly
together through score of years, by
bonds of deep friendship or devoted
love, touched to fine issues, moved to
like sympathies, reused to like endeavOr.
How, then, may we hope to build up
such relations that shall stand the test
of years, looming up unscathed before
every lightning flash of temper2 These
alone, the only potent friendships, will
not leap into existence, but must grow
with the web of life, golden threads of
sterling worth, being woven into the
firm tissue from each character. "Bru-
tus shall love Cassius, for years, aye,
forever"
Said an earnest Sunday school teacher:
81 wish this class TO double in num-
bers within the next six months"
With how great difficulty do we real
ize the danger of superficial growths.
Five earnest, enthusiastic scholars are
far better than twenty held together by
light bonds of pleasure and cOnven-
ience. Indeed, it may safely be said
that the permanent, is the slow devel-
opment How very beautiful in its
season would be the tree whose sap had
all gone into a fairy bower of frail bios
SONS But if the harvest time bring
no fruit, alas where shall we find
sOlaee? Did we wish an enemy's speedy
decline, we could ask for nothing more
surely resulting in downfall, than a
rapid success.